Birthday Plans
I’ve met a handful of people who become parents and don’t lose a beat. Those people are amazing; however, they are not me. If this were a parenting blog, I would tell you about all the reasons and in all the ways my life has changed since having kids. But it’s not, so I won’t.
There is just one thing you need to know for now. Tomorrow is my birthday. And while part of me would love to go through Matt Baumgartner’s triple-threat alcohol-poisoning birthday challenge, with Albany John driving my limp body from Bombers to Olde English to Wolff’s for my free massive drinks, I’m going to pass. Not because I don’t think it sounds like fun to ride with my head dangling outside Albany Jane’s car window on a freezing December night in Albany. No. I’m going to pass because of the children.
Birthdays are a magical event for kids. Surely some child psychologist could explain the phenomenon to me. Because it’s not just their birthday that’s so special; kids get dreamy-eyed about anyone’s birthday. Maybe it has to do with cake.
So while you think about what to get me for this day of days, I’ll entertain you with my food-centric plans of what I intend to do on the big night with my family.
Cheese Obsessed
There are five Saturdays in December, but only three that count. Oddly the two that I’m omitting are Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. December 3, 10 and 17 are the last three days of the Delmar Farmers Market until June of 2012.
And while ordinarily that wouldn’t be so meaningful, currently the Delmar Market is the only place to find Eric Paul, a.k.a. The Cheese Traveler, on a regular basis. Hopefully that will change, but just in case, I don’t want any of you to miss your chance to try his cheeses.
Maybe you read my little love note on All Over Albany about the man who I consider to be the best cheesemonger in the Capital Region. If not, you should go there now. Seriously. Because there I lay out exactly what makes The Cheese Traveler so special – and that piece has pictures.
Today, I’m telling you a bit more about this guy’s story. Because interestingly enough, Eric’s cheese journey began at the Honest Weight Food Co-op, in the days before Gustav.
Ask the Profussor – I Lost November Again
November is apparently a tricky month. It’s not short like February, but this is the second time in which there has not been an AskTP during the month of Thanksgiving. Perhaps it has something to do with the travel and holiday preparedness. I’m not sure.
But November was a great month for the FLB. It saw new readers, year over year readership growth, complements, criticisms and questions.
Longtime readers will know that if you give me enough time, I answer all questions. If they don’t get answered right away, your questions will get wrapped up in my periodic Ask the Profussor posts, which I aspire to write every two to three weeks. The only caveat is that if you want an answer, your question must use appropriate punctuation.
Oh, and one other thing. The links that begin each question below all go to the same place. It’s the mystery link of the day. Go ahead and click one, and see where you end up. But now, without further ado, onto the questions.
Setec Astronomy
Yesterday I made a few enemies. Maybe more than a few. And I’m not even talking about the people at The Standard. No, I’m referring to the food cognoscenti who have considered La Mexicana Grocery & Restaurant their little secret for the past several months.
Perhaps you read my Eat This! feature on All Over Albany about their tacos.
It’s a small place with only six tables, plenty of Mexicans, and only a few of us interlopers. I’ve never had a problem getting one of the few tables. But as word gets out, the place might fill up. And that could spell trouble for those who have considered it our own private taqueria.
I totally understand this sentiment. Generally I tend to avoid crowds, and I hate waiting on line. So in the past I’ve been loath to popularize my favorite places. But a while back Raf convinced me otherwise.
The argument goes something like this.
Four From the Finger Lakes
Just when you’ve gotten used to Sunday as brunch day, I’m bringing back a post about wine. Except this time it’s not just any wine, it’s our wine.
A while back I went off on a rant that New York wines have earned their bad reputation. And for the most part, I stand by that sentiment. I did get an earful from Lenn Thompson at the New York Cork Report, and he and his people were incensed at my loose use of language.
It was fair, and I was glad to set the record straight. It’s not that I think all New York wine is bad; rather, a lot of bad wine is made in New York. Inarguably more bad wine is made in California by volume, but that mostly comes from a few bulk producers. The Empire State has a lot of small producers who probably should be making brandy, but instead are turning their fruit into wine.
Anyhow, I’m glad to say that Lenn and I are back on good Tweeting terms as he helped me out with this Thanksgiving tasting of four 2010 dry Rieslings from the Finger Lakes.
Shameless Commerce
Thanksgiving dinner isn’t even fully digested yet, and we’ve already moved onto Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza, Festivus, and surely other winter solstice holidays whose names I do not know. But really, regardless of what you celebrate, it’s the Christmas season. It is. And really, I’m okay with that.
Christmas won. Now we have Chanukah bushes, dreidel shaped Christmas lights, and presents (a late 19th century change, which in terms of Jewish history is still quite recent).
I think one year, quite by accident, I found myself in a Walmart during Black Friday. We needed diapers. It sounded like the bulk of the excitement happened in the wee morning hours. All I know is that I love my family, and I see no reason to prove this emotional bond with material objects. The depth of my pockets can’t compare to the depth of my feelings.
Personally, I think presents are best when they are unexpected, but I know I hold the minority opinion on this. For many of you today will start a shopping frenzy that will last for weeks. So, as long as you are considering things to buy for your friends and loved ones, I humbly submit a few ideas. What follows are some Fussy approved gifts for the food and wine lover in your life.
What separates this list from all others is that these items are all low in price but high on utility.
A Thanksgiving Movement
If you are reading this I can only assume you are trying to escape your family. And if that’s the case, I’ve got just the thing for you. Clear the next twenty minutes, turn up the volume on your computer, and make yourself comfortable for this annual FLB Thanksgiving tradition.
It’s a music video of sorts, and it all starts on one Thanksgiving many, many years ago. If you are wondering what this has to do with food, well a restaurant plays prominently into the story. Because it is more of a story than a song. And perhaps it’s even more of a movement than a story.
So if you think the story starts to drag around the four minute mark, stick it out. It’ll be worth it in the end. And if it’s not, feel free to tell me. Just know I may tell you it requires multiple viewings. Because really, it does.
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